Drum-type washing machine with a drying device

ABSTRACT

A portable self-contained drying apparatus for detachable securement to the front of a drum-type washing machine for hot air drying washables. The apparatus utilizes a centrifugal blower in conjunction with electrically resistive heating elements in order to effectuate the desired air fluid movement and heat rise of the air. Also incorporated in the drying apparatus is a closure valve that permits complete isolation between the washing fluid and dryer duct work.

United States Patent Pigors [54] DRUM-TYPE WASHING MACHINE WITH A DRYING DEVICE [72] Inventor: Ernst Plgors, Niederwarnsbach,

near M'orsbach, Germany [73] Assignee: l-leinrch Schaumann &.Co. Gmbll,

Morsbach/Seig, Germany 221 Filed: Feb. 24, 1970 21 Appl. 190.; 13,355

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 19, 1969 Germany ..P 19 47 627.8

52 us. a. ..34/243, 68/13, 219/370 511 Int. Cl. ..D06f 29/00 [58] Field of Search ..68/20, 19.2, 13; 34/88, 90, 34/91, 243; 219/369, 370, 371, 372

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,286,159 11/1918 Voss ..68/13RX 1451 Sept. 19, 1972 2,608,003 8/1952 Tucker ..68/20 x 2,629,810 2/1953 Ditlow ..68/20 x 2,827,783 3/1958 l-landley ..58/19.2 x

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 542,213 4/1956 Italy ..68/20 Primary Examiner-Frederick L. Matteson Assistant Examiner-Harry B. Ramey Attorney-Allison C. Collard [57] ABSTRACT A portable self-contained drying apparatus for detachab1e securement to the front of a drum-type washing machine for hot air drying washables. The apparatus utilizes a centrifugal blower in conjunction with electrically resistive heating elements in order to effectuate the desired air fluid movement and heat rise of the air. Also incorporated in the drying apparatus is a closure valve that permits complete isolation between the washing fluid and dryer duct work.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PKTENTEDsEP 19 m2 SHEEI 1 [1F 3 DRUM-TYPE WASHING MACHINE WITH A DRYING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to washing machines,

and in particular to an improved portable drying apparatus for drum-type washing machines that may be detachably secured to the loading door of the washing machine for the drying of washables.

The equipment of a washing machine with a drying device is expensive, involving a-substantial increase in the costs of production of the washing machine. For this reason, a washing machine is not usually equipped with a dryer for use after the washing operation is complete. If the purchaser decides to convert the washing machine so as to include a drying device after he purchases it, the modification is expensive.

Drying devices of the type disposed on the front of washing machines are already known. However, the design and arrangement of the washing machine parts, which project outwardly in a forward direction, are complicated and require much space. Furthermore, during the washing operation there is no certainty that washing suds will be prevented from entering into the parts of the drying apparatus, particularly the heating apparatus. The drying air is also not directed so that it acts upon all the wash being dried, so that the washing operation is unduly prolonged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a a drying device for a washing machine which can be e'asily produced and incorporated into an already existing washing machine.

The present invention provides a portable drying device for a drum-type washing machine in which the drying device is disposed on an annular flange set in the loading opening of the washing machine, and extends partially into the interior of the drum of the washing machine. An electrically driven centrifugal fan is mounted in the housing which has ascending and then descending sets of tubes bent towards the interior of the drum with an air exit tube for heated air, the heated air current being directed onto one part of the interior of the drum in one of the tubes. The wash being dried in the washing machine drum is moved downwardly and upwardly while the drum is rotating.

A thermostat may be disposed in the tube extending upwardly from the blower so as to form part of the guiding channel or tube system for automatically switching off the air conveying unit-drive motor with theheating device.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which disclose the invention. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purposes of illustration only and are not intended as a definition of the limits and scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, wherein similar reference numerals denote similar elements throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 shows a side view of an embodiment of the drying device for a drum type washing machine disposed at one end of the drum and on the front side of the washing machine;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the drying device heating means and a closure throttle flap in the guide pipe system;

FIG. 3 shows the drying device from the rear, with the interior wall of the dryer housing removed.

FIG. 4 shows, in a view corresponding to FIG. 3, a side view of a further embodiment of the drying device with a modified heating means; and

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the drying device with the inner parts of the casing wall removed for showing the interior of the drying device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, there is shown a drumtype washing machine 1 having a loading opening 2 in which common casing 3 for all the parts of the drying device is disposed. A central outer annular attachment flange 7 secures the drying device in the opening, and has two plate-like portions 4 and 6 projecting outwardly therefrom into the inner drum space 5 of washing machine 1. Outwardly extending platelike part 4 of casing 3 contains the main parts of the drying device, including a blower shroud 8, having a blower impeller 9 mounted on shaft 10, and a blower air pipe system which includes a blower pipe part or elbow union l2, and an adjacent ascending air pipe part 13 (shown in FIGS. 3 and 4), curved pipe part 14, and a descending air pipe part 15. Plate-like casing part 6 extends into the interior of the drum space 5 and is joined to descending pipe part 15 by elbow pipe part 16 (shown in FIG. 5). Plate-like casing part 6 also contains drive motor 11 for blower 8, and the remaining portion of shaft 10 on which impeller 9 of blower 8 is mounted. In air injection pipe part 17, a closure flap 17a is disposed to prevent the entrance of washing suds into the heating air pipe system (13-17) during the washing operation. The closure flap may be actuated in a known manner by a pair of bevel gear wheels connected to the rotary shaft of the closure flaps 17a and a spindle having a turning knob extending outside of casing 3. Closure flap 17a may be actuated manually by means of a rack disposed outside the injection pipe and casing 3, a pinion engaging the rack, and a spindle having a turning knob. Air injection pipe part 17 is closed completely by the closure flap during the washing operation, and is opened in the subsequent drying operation. A heating means 18, which is an electrical resistance, is disposed in ascending pipe part 13. A thermostat 19 is disposed in descending pipe part 15 and automatically switches off the heating means, while the blower continues to rotate to cool the wash dried by the stream of hot air. For additionally switching and regulating heating means 18, an adjustable time switch 20 is disposed on the front side of the drying device casing part 4. Furthermore on the front side of the dryer casing part 4 is disposed a pre-selector switch 21 for setting the washing procedure or after removal of the washing suds the drying procedure. Below this switch 21 check lamp 22 may be provided for indicating the switching on of the washing machine and the drying device. Further more, inside the plate-like casing part 4 there is a light source and a mirror which show the image of the interior of the drum space 5 through a viewing hole 23 of the casing part 4. The guide pipe system, pipe parts 13-17, is constructed so that washing suds are prevented from entering drum space 5, and touching the heating means, during the washing operation. Closure flap 17a prevents the flow of suds into the drying device.

In non-oscillatory washing machines the tube system 13 to 17 is so arranged and constructed that the warm injection pipe part 17 is directed to the sides of drum space 5 in which the wash is tumbled upwardly and downwardly. The air pipe parts l2, l3, 14, 15, 16, and 17 are connected to each other by flanges. The descending pipe part 15 is attached to the front wall of the dryer casing part 4, on which the drive motor 11 and the blower 8, 9 are attached by means of pivoting elements. The hot air stream produced by the blower and heated in the ascending pipe part 13 is directed by the air pipe system and the air injection pipe part 17 onto the wash which falls down loosely, after the suds have been discharged from the interior of the drum space 5. Through the inspection opening 23 the interior of the drum space illuminated by the light source 22 may be inspected via the reflecting mirror 23a.

In washing machines with oscillating washing drums, the hot air stream is directed alternately on the wash as it falls downwardly as the drum rotates in one direction, and as the wash is thrown upwardly during opposite rotation of the washing drum. As a result, the hot drying air stream is directed onto the wash as it moves upwardly and downwardly in the washing drum, unlike known washing drying devices whose drying air stream is only directed on the pieces of wash lying on the bottom of the drum.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 the heating resistance 18a is surrounded by heatproof insulating material enclosed in a tubular casing of stainless steel which surrounds the impellor 9 of the blower 8 as free coils whose ends are connected with current terminals.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4 there are heating resistances 18c disposed on supports 18b which increase in diameter in the direction of flow of the blower air to be heated, which cause a turbulent air flow.

While only several embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those persons skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A drying device for a washing machine with a drum arranged to rotate about a horizontal axis, a housing surrounding the drum and having a loading opening adjacent one end of said drum and at the front side of the washing machine, the improvement comprising a casing adapted to close said loading opening, said drying device having a blower, a drive motor for said blower and a heating means for the drying air of said blower located in said casing, the casing including a central outer annular attachment flange and two platelike portions extending from said outer annular flange inwardly and outwardly, one of said plate-like portions directed outwardly and containing in juxtapositioned arrangement said blower and a guide pipe system for the drying air of the blower with an ascending and a following descending pipe part, said heating means bein disposed in said pipe system, the other end of S315 plate-like casing portions extending to the interior of said drum and including an inspection opening and containing in juxtapositioned arrangement said drive motor of said blower and an injection pipe as part of said guide pipe system for injecting the drying air of said blower into the interior of the drum.

2. The drying device as recited in claim 1, in which electric resistance wires comprising said heating means are supported on at least one carrier in said ascending part of said guide pipe system.

3. The drying device as recited in claim 1, in which said heating means includes an electrically insulated and armed resistance wire disposed in radial space in around the circumferance of the fan wheel of said blower.

4. The drying device as recited in claim 1, in which said guide pipe system is subdivided into a plurality of pipe parts, one of them being attached to the common casing of the drying device, the other pipe parts being attached to each other and to the first pipe part by attachment flange connections.

5. The drying device as recited in claim 1, in which between the point where the drying blower air injects into the drum and said ascending pipe part of the guide pipe system a closure means for avoiding penetration of washing suds during the washing operation is disposed. 

1. A drying device for a washing machine with a drum arranged to rotate about a horizontal axis, a housing surrounding the drum and having a loading opening adjacent one end of said drum and at the front side of the washing machine, the improvement comprising a casing adapted to close said loading opening, said drying device having a blower, a drive motor for said blower and a heating means for the drying air of said blower located in said casing, the casing including a central outer annular attachment flange and two plate-like portions extending from said outer annular flange inwardly and outwardly, one of said plate-like portions directed outwardly and containing in juxtapositioned arrangement said blower and a guide pipe system for the drying air of the blower with an ascending and a following descending pipe part, said heating means being disposed in said pipe system, the other end of said plate-like casing portions extending to the interior of said drum and including an inspection opening and containing in juxtapositioned arrangement said drive motor of said blower and an injection pipe as part of said guide pipe system for injecting the drying air of said blower into the interior of the drum.
 2. The drying device as recited in claim 1, in which electric resistance wires comprising said heating means are supported on at least one carrier in said ascending part of said guide pipe system.
 3. The drying device as recited in claim 1, in which said heating means includes an electrically insulated and armed resistance wire disposed in radial space in around the circumferance of the fan wheel of said blower.
 4. The drying device as recited in claim 1, in which said guide pipe system is subdivided into a plurality of pipe parts, one of them being attached to the common casing of the drying device, the other pipe parts being attached to each other and to the first pipe part by attachment flange connections.
 5. The drying device as recited in claim 1, in which between the point where the Drying blower air injects into the drum and said ascending pipe part of the guide pipe system a closure means for avoiding penetration of washing suds during the washing operation is disposed. 